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Maine Initiativesinc

Maine initiatives, a fund for change, cultivates social, economic, and environmental justice through grants and other support to grassroots organizations in maine communities.

$1.9M
Granted FY2025still arriving
51
Grants FY2025still arriving
2
States reached
$159k
Largest
01What it funds
01100% classified

What it funded, over time

Every grant placed by its stated purpose and the recipient’s mission, by year, FY2017 to 2024.

Civil Rights$1.8MHuman Services$1.7MArts & Culture$942kCommunity Improvement$917kCrime & Legal$331kHealth$294kYouth Development$291kEmployment$275kOther$0
02FY2025 · 51 grants

Where the money goes

Grants by size, and the largest recipients.

How this is measured
The 51 grants below total $1,839,540, the rows itemized in this filing. The $1,916,165 headline is the total grant expense on the return; the other $76,625 is giving the schedule does not break out (grants under the $5,000 itemization floor, grants to individuals, grants on other schedules). Every figure below describes the itemized rows only.

By grant size · FY2025

  • $10k–50k37 grants · $890k
  • $50k–250k14 grants · $950k
$40,000
Median grant
2
States reached
$6.4M
Total assets
Largest grants
RecipientAmount
MAINE IMMIGRANTS RIGHTS COALITION$159,050
MANO EN MANO$100,000
LAND IN COMMON$75,000
SOUTHERN MAINE WORKERS CENTER$65,490
FOOD FOR ALL SERVICES$55,000
COOPERATIVE DEVELOPMENT INSTITUTE$55,000
INTERCULTURAL COMMUNITY CENTER$55,000
WOUNDED HEALERS INTERNATIONAL$55,000
EMPOWERED IMMIGRANT WOMEN UNITE$55,000
EARLY MATH AND LANGUAGE INITIATIVE$55,000
GATEWAY COMMUNITY SERVICES$55,000
SOMALI BANTU COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION$55,000
UNITED YOUTH EMPOWERMENT SERVICES$55,000
LADDER TO THE MOON NETWORK$55,000
SCARBOROUGH PUBLIC SCHOOLS$45,000
02The need
03

Does the money reach high-need areas?

Each grant placed by the hardship in its grantee’s ZIP, against the area’s typical level.

show:

Its human-services grants (FY17–25, $2.6M) land where the poverty rate runs at 8%, against an area that typically sits at 11%. 23% of those dollars go to grantees based in above-average-need neighborhoods. Its grants skew toward lower-need ZIPs.

area typical 11%YORK COUNTY COMMUNITY ACTION: $15k → 9%WABANAKI WOMEN'S COALITION: $30k → 13%EMPOWERED IMMIGRANT WOMEN UNITE: $55k → 13%WABANAKI WOMEN'S COALITION: $20k → 13%SOMALI BANTU COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION: $55k → 13%KHMER MAINE: $85k → 7%SOMALI BANTU COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION: $55k → 13%OUT IN THE OPEN: $20k → 13%SOMALI BANTU COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION: $37k → 13%IMMIGRANT RESOURCE CENTER: $35k → 13%NEW ENGLAND ARAB AMERICAN: $45k → 7%NEW ENGLAND ARAB AMERICAN: $20k → 7%SOMALI BANTU COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION: $28k → 13%WABANAKI WOMEN'S COALITION: $45k → 15%MAINE IMMIGRANT AND REFUGEE SERVICE: $25k → 13%MAINE IMMIGRANT AND REFUGEE SERVICE: $23k → 13%SOMALI BANTU COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION: $18k → 13%SOMALI BANTU COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION: $18k → 13%AK HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES: $15k → 13%IMMIGRANT RESOURCE CENTER: $15k → 13%SOMALI BANTU COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION: $15k → 13%MAINE IMMIGRANTS RIGHTS COALITION: $216k → 7%MAINE IMMIGRANTS RIGHTS COALITION: $210k → 7%MAINE IMMIGRANTS RIGHTS COALITION: $159k → 7%MAINE IMMIGRANTS RIGHTS COALITION: $147k → 7%PRESENTE MAINE: $125k → 7%MAINE IMMIGRANTS RIGHTS COALITION: $105k → 7%MAINE IMMIGRANTS RIGHTS COALITION: $103k → 7%MAINE IMMIGRANTS RIGHTS COALITION: $75k → 7%FOOD FOR ALL SERVICES: $55k → 7%GATEWAY COMMUNITY SERVICES: $55k → 7%FOOD FOR ALL SERVICES: $45k → 7%PROSPERITYME: $45k → 7%GOOD MEDICINE COLLECTIVE: $30k → 7%HOPE ACTS: $30k → 7%PRESENTE MAINE: $30k → 7%PROSPERITYME: $29k → 7%PROSPERITYME: $25k → 7%HOPE ACTS: $25k → 7%PREBLE STREET RESOURCE CENTER: $23k → 7%GATEWAY COMMUNITY SERVICES: $20k → 7%GATEWAY COMMUNITY SERVICES: $20k → 7%GATEWAY COMMUNITY SERVICES: $16k → 7%PRESENTE MAINE: $15k → 7%MAINE IMMIGRANT ACCESS NETWORK: $15k → 7%GREATER PORTLAND IMMIGRANT WELCOME: $15k → 7%PREBLE STREET RESOURCE CENTER: $15k → 7%GATEWAY COMMUNITY SERVICES: $15k → 7%0%20%40%50%more need →
grant to an above-average-need area below average· circle size = grant amount
How this is measured
Matched: human-services grants are those whose grantee’s IRS cause code is Human Services. Placed by people below the poverty line in the grantee’s ZIP, averaged from the tracts in that ZIP.
How this is measured
US grants placed by each grantee’s ZIP, which can differ from where services are delivered. Need from public data (U.S. Census/ACS, CDC PLACES, Eviction Lab, USDA), shown as context about the area, never attributed to the funder’s giving.
03Its grantees
repeat funding

Who it funds again

Organizations funded in more than one year, against those funded once.

87%of every dollar goes to organizations it has funded before.
$8.4M · 80 repeat orgs$1.3M to everyone else

Grantees it renews have grown median revenue +44% since the first grant, against +8% for those funded once.

80 repeat relationships: 35 still active in FY2025, 45 since wound down; 14 grantees were first funded in FY2025 (too recent to call).

How the two cohorts compare

Re-uppedFunded once

Organizations

80
37

Total granted

$8.4M
$763k

Median revenue growth · since first grant

+44%
+8%

Still filing today

84%
73%

New vs renewed · share of each year

In FY2025, 72% of grant dollars renewed an existing relationship; $510k went to new ones.

50%100%’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
RenewedFirst-time

Where new relationships form · theme of each grantee’s first grant

’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
Human ServicesArts & CultureCommunity ImprovementCrime & LegalEnvironmentHealthOther
How this is measured
First-time means a grantee’s first year in the filing window; renewed means funded in an earlier year too. The renewed share climbs naturally as a portfolio matures, so the signal is a year that bucks it (a wave of new grantees). The earliest year is left-censored: relationships that predate the data read as new. Theme is the grantee’s IRS cause.

Backed again, and grew

  • MI
    MAINE IMMIGRANTS' RIGHTS COALITION
    8× · 2018–2025 · $1.0M · revenue ×24 · 41% of their budget
  • RF
    Resources for Organizing and Social Change
    8× · 2017–2024 · $743k · revenue +15% · 27% of their budget
  • SM
    SOUTHERN MAINE WORKERS CENTER
    7× · 2018–2025 · $328k · revenue +176%

Funded once

  • BL
    BOMAZEEN LAND TRUST
    one grant, 2023 · $75k · revenue -57%
  • WY
    WABANAKI YOUTH IN SCIENCE INC
    one grant, 2023 · $75k · revenue +8%
  • YJ
    YOUTH-LED JUSTICE
    one grant, 2024 · $45k · revenue -41%
How this is measured

Repeat means funded in two or more distinct years. Growth and survival are read from each grantee’s own subsequent IRS filings.

04Its field

Closest unfunded matches

The nonprofits that most resemble its grantees but are not funded by it, scored along the direction from the rest of the field toward the portfolio. A resemblance in what they say they do, not a recommendation.

1
Maine Climate Action Now

MCAN catalyzes transformative education and action in response to the climate crisis. We seek to honor, unite and amplify the voices of youth, frontline communities, and others historically excluded from the climate conversation and…

Environment
2
Maine Donor Alliance Fund

To build a permanent and powerful progressive movement in Maine. We will promote a healthy, just, equitable democracy through research, engagement, and education of Maine's citizens. We will engage in democracy expansion, voter engagement,…

Education
3
Protect Maine's Fishing Heritage Foundation
Environment
4
Wetlands Foundation
Environment
5
Maine Access Points

To recognize the resiliency of people who use drugs and to work in collaboration to create access points for overdose prevention and harm reduction services in Maine.

Health
6
Maine Afl-Cio

To promote and ensure workers' rights

—
7
Maine GearShare

To provide access to outdoor gear and know-how through a collaborative, equity-centered approach.

Recreation & Sports
8
Maine Donor Alliance

To build a permanent and powerful social change movement in Maine, supported by a network of committed donors.

Civil Rights
9
Maine & Company

Maine & Company is a private, non-profit business development sales organization. Its purpose is to improve Maine's success in attracting new business and expanding and retaining existing business by providing a focused, statewide sales…

—
10
EqualityMaine

EqualityMaine works to protect and advance full equality for all lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer Mainers by creating an inclusive and intersectional movement through political action, community building, education,…

Civil Rights
11
Maine Health Access Foundation Inc
Health
12
Fork Food Lab

Fork Food Lab is a nonprofit food business incubator and shared commercial kitchen focused on growing the local food economy. We support the growth of sustainable Maine-based businesses by providing entrepreneurs with work space,…

Environment
How this is measured
The grantee most central to the portfolio’s shape is Maine Immigrant and Refugee Services; the most unlike its peers is Food for All Services. Resemblance is measured on each organization’s own IRS 990 mission text; it reflects how work is described, not its quality or impact.
04the grantee network

107 grantees tracked through their own filings, 2017–2026.

Each grant beside the grantee’s revenue from every source, year by year.

How this is measured

Counted here: distinct organizations funded across 2017 to 2026, not grant rows in a single year, so this will not match the grant count on the cover. 107 of the 131 grantees resolved in that span have returns of their own we could reconcile.

Each grantee is resolved to its own IRS returns. Association, dated; never a causal claim.

12
Load-bearing (≥25% of a budget)
33
Early backer (in before they grew)
103/107
Grantees still filing
67/107
Grew since first funded

Where the money sits, by cause and then by grantee

MAINE IMMIGRANTS' RIGHTS COALITION: $1,025,381 · Human ServicesMAINE IMMIGRANTS' RIGHTS COALITIONSomali Bantu Community Association of Maine: $246,020 · Human ServicesSomali Bantu Community Association…Presente Maine: $182,000 · Human ServicesPresente MaineGateway Community Services Maine: $136,370 · Human ServicesNEW ENGLAND ARAB AMERICAN ORGANIZATION: $115,860 · Human ServicesPROSPERITYME: $109,022 · Human ServicesMaine Access Immigrant Network: $107,127 · Human ServicesWABANAKI WOMENS COALITION INC: $105,460 · Human ServicesFOOD FOR ALL SERVICES: $100,000 · Human Services+16 more: $820,807 · Human Services+16 moreResources for Organizing and Social Change: $743,449 · OtherResources for Organizing and Soci…NEW MAINERS PUBLIC HEALTH INITIATIVE: $127,860 · OtherMAINE CONSERVATION ALLIANCE: $107,500 · OtherLADDER TO THE MOON NETWORK: $127,860 · Other+63 more: $1,793,482 · Other+63 moreMAINE INSIDE OUT: $283,879 · Arts & CultureMAINE INSIDE OUTIndigo Arts Alliance: $192,554 · Arts & CultureIndigo Arts Allian…MAINE-WABANAKI REACH: $172,360 · Arts & CultureMAINE-WABANAKI REA…CAPITAL AREA NEW MAINERS PROJECT: $142,860 · Arts & CultureCAPITAL AREA NEW M…INTERCULTURAL COMMUNITY CENTER: $137,166 · Arts & CultureINTERCULTURAL COMM…WABANAKI CULTURAL PRESERVATION COALITION: $115,360 · Arts & CultureWABANAKI CULTURAL …Wabanaki Alliance: $100,000 · Arts & CultureWabanaki AllianceSPACE Gallery: $81,220 · Arts & CultureWHYHUNGER INC: $75,360 · Arts & CultureBOMAZEEN LAND TRUST: $75,000 · Arts & CultureAbbe Museum: $70,360 · Arts & CultureWabanaki Commission on Land and Stewardship: $60,000 · Arts & Culture+5 more: $105,822 · Arts & Culture+5 moreMAINE COMMUNITY INTEGRATION: $257,860 · Community ImprovementMAINE COMMUN…THE THIRD PLACE INC: $167,143 · Community ImprovementTHE THIRD PL…In Her Presence: $150,560 · Community ImprovementIn Her Prese…Maine Association for New Americans: $148,787 · Community ImprovementMaine Associ…LAND IN COMMON INC: $105,000 · Community ImprovementLAND IN COMM…COOPERATIVE DEVELOPMENT INSTITUTE INC: $87,500 · Community ImprovementCOOPERATIVE …CREATIVE PORTLAND CORPORATION: $70,660 · Community ImprovementCREATIVE POR…+4 more: $52,343 · Community ImprovementMAINE PRISONER ADVOCACY COALITION: $217,000 · Crime & LegalWounded Healers International Inc: $85,000 · Crime & LegalMaine Equal Justice Partners: $67,813 · Crime & LegalYOUTH-LED JUSTICE: $45,000 · Crime & LegalIMMIGRANT LEGAL ADVOCACY PROJECT: $40,000 · Crime & LegalMOVING FORWARD FOR MAINE REENTRY SISTERS CORPORATION: $30,000 · Crime & Legal+1 more: $5,012 · Crime & LegalHand in Hand Mano en Mano: $300,339 · EducationEARLY MATH AND LANGUAGE INITIATIVE: $55,000 · EducationUNIVERSITY OF MAINE SCHOOL OF LAW FOUNDATION: $40,000 · EducationSOUTHERN MAINE WORKERS CENTER: $327,718 · Employment
Human Services$2,948,047Other$2,900,151Arts & Culture$1,611,941Community Improvement$1,039,853Crime & Legal$489,825Education$395,339Employment$327,718

Each grantee by its size and the funder’s share of it; top left is load-bearing

25%50%75%100%$100k$1.0M$10Mgrantee revenue →↑ funder's share of their budgetMAINE IMMIGRANTS' RIGHTS COALITION: $1,025,381 over 8y, 41% of budgetResources for Organizing and Social Change: $743,449 over 8y, 27% of budgetSOUTHERN MAINE WORKERS CENTER: $327,718 over 7y, 24% of budgetHand in Hand Mano en Mano: $300,339 over 6y, 2.0% of budgetMAINE INSIDE OUT: $283,879 over 6y, 23% of budgetMAINE COMMUNITY INTEGRATION: $257,860 over 7y, 16% of budgetSomali Bantu Community Association of Maine: $246,020 over 9y, 5.3% of budgetMAINE PRISONER ADVOCACY COALITION: $217,000 over 3y, 34% of budgetIndigo Arts Alliance: $192,554 over 5y, 4.7% of budgetPresente Maine: $182,000 over 4y, 7.8% of budgetMAINE-WABANAKI REACH: $172,360 over 5y, 9.6% of budgetTHE THIRD PLACE INC: $167,143 over 3y, 73% of budgetIn Her Presence: $150,560 over 7y, 7.0% of budgetMaine Association for New Americans: $148,787 over 5y, 5.4% of budgetCAPITAL AREA NEW MAINERS PROJECT: $142,860 over 5y, 26% of budgetINTERCULTURAL COMMUNITY CENTER: $137,166 over 7y, 6.5% of budgetGateway Community Services Maine: $136,370 over 6y, 12% of budgetNEW MAINERS PUBLIC HEALTH INITIATIVE: $127,860 over 5y, 5.3% of budgetLADDER TO THE MOON NETWORK: $127,860 over 6y, 22% of budgetNEW ENGLAND ARAB AMERICAN ORGANIZATION: $115,860 over 7y, 9.2% of budgetWABANAKI CULTURAL PRESERVATION COALITION: $115,360 over 5y, 7.8% of budgetPROSPERITYME: $109,022 over 4y, 3.0% of budgetMAINE CONSERVATION ALLIANCE: $107,500 over 3y, 4.2% of budgetMaine Access Immigrant Network: $107,127 over 7y, 5.7% of budgetWABANAKI WOMENS COALITION INC: $105,460 over 4y, 13% of budgetLAND IN COMMON INC: $105,000 over 2y, 7.8% of budgetWabanaki Alliance: $100,000 over 2y, 13% of budgetSUSTAINABLE LIVELIHOODS RELIEF ORGANIZATION: $97,860 over 6y, 37% of budgetKhmer Maine: $95,000 over 2y, 28% of budgetFURNITURE FRIENDS: $88,360 over 4y, 15% of budgetCOOPERATIVE DEVELOPMENT INSTITUTE INC: $87,500 over 4y, 0.8% of budgetHope Acts: $85,000 over 5y, 3.1% of budgetWounded Healers International Inc: $85,000 over 2y, 48% of budgetSPACE Gallery: $81,220 over 4y, 2.5% of budgetWABANAKI HEALTH & WELLNESS NPC: $81,000 over 4y, 1.3% of budgetWHYHUNGER INC: $75,360 over 3y, 0.4% of budgetHEALTHY ACADIA: $75,000 over 2y, 0.7% of budgetBOMAZEEN LAND TRUST: $75,000 over 1y, 11% of budgetWABANAKI YOUTH IN SCIENCE INC: $75,000 over 1y, 7.6% of budgetMAINE IMMIGRANT AND REFUGEE SERVICES: $71,500 over 4y, 1.8% of budgetCREATIVE PORTLAND CORPORATION: $70,660 over 5y, 9.1% of budgetAbbe Museum: $70,360 over 4y, 3.7% of budgetNiweskok: $70,000 over 2y, 4.5% of budgetMaine Equal Justice Partners: $67,813 over 4y, 1.1% of budgetPREBLE STREET: $66,560 over 5y, 0.1% of budgetIMMIGRANT RESOURCE CENTER OF MAINE: $60,000 over 3y, 0.5% of budgetWabanaki Commission on Land and Stewardship: $60,000 over 2y, 1.2% of budgetEMPOWERED IMMIGRANT WOMEN UNITE: $55,000 over 1y, 28% of budget
Grantee by grantee: a decade per organization, before and after funding

A decade per grantee: revenue shaded, grants as bars, all rows on one timeline.

  • Who funds MAINE IMMIGRANTS' RIGHTS COALITION ↗
  • Who funds Resources for Organizing and Social Change ↗
  • Who funds SOUTHERN MAINE WORKERS CENTER ↗
  • Who funds Hand in Hand Mano en Mano ↗
  • Who funds MAINE INSIDE OUT ↗
  • Who funds MAINE COMMUNITY INTEGRATION ↗
  • Who funds Somali Bantu Community Association of Maine ↗
  • Who funds MAINE PRISONER ADVOCACY COALITION ↗
  • Who funds Indigo Arts Alliance ↗
  • Who funds Presente Maine ↗
  • Who funds MAINE-WABANAKI REACH ↗
  • Who funds THE THIRD PLACE INC ↗
  • Who funds In Her Presence ↗
  • Who funds Maine Association for New Americans ↗
  • Who funds CAPITAL AREA NEW MAINERS PROJECT ↗
  • Who funds INTERCULTURAL COMMUNITY CENTER ↗
  • Who funds Gateway Community Services Maine ↗
  • Who funds NEW MAINERS PUBLIC HEALTH INITIATIVE ↗
  • Who funds LADDER TO THE MOON NETWORK ↗
  • Who funds NEW ENGLAND ARAB AMERICAN ORGANIZATION ↗
  • Who funds WABANAKI CULTURAL PRESERVATION COALITION ↗
  • Who funds PROSPERITYME ↗
  • Who funds MAINE CONSERVATION ALLIANCE ↗
  • Who funds Maine Access Immigrant Network ↗
  • Who funds WABANAKI WOMENS COALITION INC ↗
  • Who funds LAND IN COMMON INC ↗
  • Who funds Wabanaki Alliance ↗
  • Who funds FOOD FOR ALL SERVICES ↗
  • Who funds SUSTAINABLE LIVELIHOODS RELIEF ORGANIZATION ↗
  • Who funds Khmer Maine ↗
  • Who funds FURNITURE FRIENDS ↗
  • Who funds COOPERATIVE DEVELOPMENT INSTITUTE INC ↗
  • Who funds Hope Acts ↗
  • Who funds Wounded Healers International Inc ↗
  • Who funds SPACE Gallery ↗
  • Who funds WABANAKI HEALTH & WELLNESS NPC ↗
  • Who funds WHYHUNGER INC ↗
  • Who funds HEALTHY ACADIA ↗
  • Who funds BOMAZEEN LAND TRUST ↗

Co-funders

Grantmakers whose grantees overlap with this funder’s far more than size alone predicts. Closer means stronger alignment; arcs show where they also fund each other. Here they form a tightly interlocked group: most of these funders back each other's grantees too.

Maine Community Foundation IncME133.9× affinity92 shared granteesties to 11 of 11Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: Maine Community Foundation Inc · Elmina B Sewall Foundation · Good Shepherd Food Bank · Onion Foundation · Maine Health Access Foundation Inc · Sam L Cohen Foundation · John T Gorman Foundation · United Way Inc · Quimby Family Foundation · Maine Humanities Council · Maine Womens Fund · Haymarket People's Fund Inc

How this is measured
Affinity is a Gamma-Poisson posterior co-funding rate, re-centered on the typical rate, so thin evidence shrinks toward no signal. Overlap is association, not proof of shared intent.

How much its grantees rely on government

Each dot is one organization Maine Initiativesinc funds: left to right is the share of its income from government, bottom to top the share from Maine Initiativesinc. Bigger dots raise more.

2024
’20’21’22’23’24’25
no gov · 10%6%25%56%100%funder's share of their income ↑0%25%50%75%100%share of the org’s income from government →median 58%
  • Cooperative Development Institute Inc: 58% of income from government
  • Resist Inc: 2% of income from government
no gov moneyreceives it· size = income
1get no government money at all
28report government grants on their 990 we could not trace to a source (not plotted)
1rely on government for over half their income
typical government reliance, FY20–25
How this is measured
Government income is each org’s traced federal awards (USASpending grants and contracts) plus state payments (open checkbooks) as a share of its total revenue (IRS Form 990); the self-reported government-grant line (990 line 1e) is carried for cross-check: a grantee that reports government grants we could not trace to a source is left off the chart rather than shown as receiving none. An association, not a claim that a grant caused the public funding. Coverage is precision-first, a floor rather than a census; state records exist for 9 states, so a grantee outside them shows no state figure (dimmed) rather than a false zero. Federal award amounts are obligations, which can span years, so a single-year share is indicative. 990 filings lag 12 to 24 months.

On method. Every financial figure here is read from IRS e-file XML, the funder’s own 990/990-PF, and from the multi-year returns of the 131 grantees we resolved, each linked to its source. Grantee outcomes are each organization’s own program-service reporting (Form 990, Part III), read as association with funding, never as caused by it. Low-confidence name matches are suppressed rather than guessed. How we build these →

How this is measured
Each figure carries one of six labels. Filed is what the funder reported on its return. Official is another government record about an organization, such as a federal award or a charity register, joined by name where no shared identifier exists. Resolved is an identity we worked out where the filing named a recipient without an EIN, kept only above a measured confidence threshold. Computed is arithmetic over those, like themes, portfolio clusters and co-funder strength. Context is a statistic about a place rather than about an organization, which is what the need overlay is: it describes the area a grantee’s address sits in, not where its work lands. Inferred is drawn by a model from text, like the partnerships read out of public news and organization websites. Each is labeled where it appears.

Generated from the IRS Form 990 e-file return for fiscal year 2025, released 2025. Filings run roughly 12 to 24 months behind; figures are dated accordingly.

Source object · view filing

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